Monthly Archives: October 2012

AIBDPA will participate in the Central TU programmes

16 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Uncategorized

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Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association(AIBDPA), while speaking to the press a Erode announced that the AIBDPA will participate in all the programmes of the Central Trade Unions  decided in the National Convention held in Delhi on 4th September 2012. Though the pensioners can not go on strike, but they will give all support and solidarity to the strike on 20-21 February 2013 by holding demonstrations and participating in the joint rally etc. The pensioners very well know that this struggle is to defend the rights of people including pensioners.

BSNL management should pay Bonus to the workers

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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Bonus has been denied to the BSNL workers for the last two years on the plea that the company has posted profit. It is true that the company is in loss, but the primary responsiblity for this lies on the Government for its anti-PSU policy and the non-governance by the Management. Why the company has started posting is loss is known to all. The workers cn not be blamed for the loss and punished.

Since 1997, when the government decided to pay bonus to central government employees as a result of the strike of 1974 and the formation of Janata Government after the debacle of the Congress in the 1977 elections, telecom employees and after formation BSNL employees were continuously getting bonus. Bonus in BSNL was paid on a Memorandum of Understanding between the BSNL Management and DOT in which the recognised union is not a party. The union has demanded for a new Bonus Policy for the last few years, but the management did not take any action. Actually the productivity has increased, but the arbitrary condition that Bonus will not be eligible if the company is not in profit is an arbitrary decision of the management.

The United Forum and BSNL Employees Union has strongly demanded that this year the Bonus has to be paid whether loss or profit. It is the right of the workers. It has been gained through sustained struggles by the employees. The change from government to PSU can not be a reason for denial of Bonus.

The United Forum has decided to observe Demands Day on 17th October 2012 on the demands of Bonus, allotment of free spectrum to BSNL and MTNL and also against the FDI in Pension and increase of FDI in Insurance sector. The next programme will be massive dharna on 9th November at SSA/Circle/Co.O. levels.

The agitation should be organised in a massive way so that the management should be compelled to concede the just demands of the BSNL workers.

I am at Erode for attending AIBDPA Conference.

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Today I reached Erode to attend the Circle Conference of AIBDPA to be held here tomorrow, 14th October 2012. I reached Coimbatore by flight from Delhi at about 1200 hours and comrades were waiting under the leadership of Com. Umapathy to receive me and take to Erode, We Reached at Erode by about 1500 hours. The District Conference of AIBDPA, Erode was in progress and was almost going to end. More than 100 delegates were present . Erode has got about 300 members of the AIBDPA and is functioning effectively under the leadership of Com. Ayyasamy. There are about one hundred subscribers to  ‘Tele Pensioner’, journal of the AIBDPA.

Tomorrow is the Circle Conference of AIBDPA, Tamil Nadu Circle. Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, Com. S.Chellappa, Circle secretary, BSNLEU and others will be addressing in addition to me. About 500 delegates will be attending. Circle President Com. Mohan Doss and Circle Secretary, Com. C.K.Narasimhan have already reached and is holding the Circle Executive meeting today evening. A Press Conference will be held tomorrow by Com.Jayaraj, General Secretary.

Tanil Nadu comrades have taken seriously about the building up of the AIBDPA and is on the correct path. My congratulations to all of them!

How much Contract Labour are exploited BSNL!

12 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Today some of the contract workers from Mathura and Sahranpur came to my residence. They reported what is happening there with regard to the payment of wages etc. to contract workers.

Out of the 150 contract workers in Mathura 125 are retrenched and only 25 are working at present. The existing contract workers are being paid only Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 monthly according to the job, whether in office, computer, line work etc. This is being paid by the Account Officer / SDE etc. There is no record of the payment, the name of the contract worker is not mentioned, no signature is taken from the employee, no EPF or ESI is deducted or remitted along with the contribution of the contractor/Principal Employer etc. This is completely against the govt of India orders, various Acts of Parliament as also instructions of the CMD. The Minimum wage is to be paid to the workers, ESI and EPF amount is to be deducted.

This inhuman exploitation has to end and the rules are implemented and workers should get their eligible benefit. BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU jointly has to take up the cases and ensure that justice is meted out to the downtrodden workers.

Well Done Comrades!

11 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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According to the reports so far received, the Lunch Hour Demonstration held today as per the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions was massively participated everywhere. The workers shouted slogans demanding ITS repatriation at the earliest. They demanded that if the repatriation of ITS to DOT is not implemented or permanent deputation for ITS is allowed, then all the 2.74  lakhs executives and non-executives also should be granted the same facility to avoid discrimination and injustice to the employees.

Savingrams were  sent to Prime minister, Cabinet Secretary, Communications Minister, Secretary DOT and CMD BSNL demanding immediate repatriation of ITS or permanent deputation to all employees as is being proposed by the DOT and BSNL management for all employees.

The next programme of action is One Day Dharna on 15th October 2012  at SSA/Circle/ All India levels.

BSNL workers under the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations are preparing to make the programmes a great success.

Left, BJP and BSP boycot 2G JPC

11 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by in Corruption

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The Left, BJP and BSP members in the JPC enquiring 2G scam, boycotted the JPC protesting against the autocratic decisions of the JPC Chairman and not including the Finance Minister and Prime minister as witnesses in the 2G scam, as demanded by the members of the JPC.

This is a big blow to the government. Boycott of the Joint Parliamentary Committee is very rare. Though the members belong to different parties, usually they come to common understanding and submit their report accordingly. The planned and determined efforts of the chairman not to allow either witness or documents which may go against the government has brought the matters to this stage,

The Chairman, JPC should take an objective view and noy a subjective view in the matter and take necessary action so that the committee functions correctly.

Mobile subscriber base down in August 2012

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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As per TRAI, mobile subscriber base in India has reduced from 913.49 to 908.6 million lines from July to August 2012, a reduction of 5.13 million. In July also, there was reduction in the same way.

It is reported that the reduction is mainly due to the disconnection of the non-active connections as required by the government and regulator.

11th October – a grim reminder of the US – India Nuclear colloboration

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy

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It is 4 years now after the Indian government made the Nuclear Agreement with the US, which almost saw the collapse of the UPA-I government.  The government could survive only due to money power and unethical political manovures. The Left parties which were supporting the government withdrew their support protesting against the dangerous treaty with US, which almost put India as a subordinate ally of the US. During the four years, we have seen many agreements between India and US on military purchases, military and navy exercises etc. which is gradually erasing the non-aligned status of the country which was nurtured by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and later. India’s oil purchase from Iran, which was very favourable to India is gradually eroding due to pressure from US. Economic reforms are introduced by the Manmohan Singh to suit the requirement of the MNCs and capitalist countries.

All these have happened and are happening continuously. The Nuclear Deal signed on 11th October has speeded up all these pro-MNC, Pro-US measures. The people and political parties are realising the grave situation and there are rumblings in all the opposition parties and even UPA- allies on all these.

The next two years are very important in the political life of India. It has to be seen whether the people will be able to unite and fight against the anti-people policies and defeat it.

BSNL and MTNL should be given free spectrum

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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Government should honour its commitment to the BSNL and MTNL with regard to the safeguarding the financial viability of both the companies.  BSNL/MTNL and its government department, DOT, have been providing the telecom services for more than one century installing a net work all over India with much difficulty and hardship. Even now it is only BSNL which provides the large network of landlines in the rural areas. It is not for profit that these services are provided, it is for fulfilling the obligation of the government to provide universal service. BSNL and MTNL can not be compared with the private telcos whose only motive is profit and more profit.  They evade payment of taxes, cheat the government, goes to courts and TDSAT now and then to get more concession, utilise the political bosses to get special consideration etc. Almost every time they succeeds in these manoeuvres. But the PSUs are neglected by everybody. Even its management evades arguing for its cause fearing the disapproval of the higher-ups, the government. This situation should change. BSNL and MTNL should be given special consideration in all respects. Not only that their interests are not ignored, they should be given special consideration.

The workers have also a role. Continuous pressure on the management and the government is required.The immediate issue is that the government should allot spectrum free to both the PSUs.

BSNL CCWF Central Executive Committee

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation will be held at Dhanbad (Jharkhand) on 3rd and 4th November 2012. The CEC has a lot of issues to be discussed and decided. All the office-bearers and circle secretaries are requested to book their tickets immediately so that they can get the reservations. The arrival and departure may be intimated to Com. Tapas Ghosh Secretary General BSNLCCWF in advance to make all arrangements.